Earlier this month, we supported Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia, in a critical whale rescue mission in the Kimberley.
An 11-metre humpback whale had become heavily entangled in rope in the northern part of Lalang-gaddam Marine Park. The whale was struggling to move and quickly running out of energy, making the situation urgent and life-threatening.
When we got the call, our team mobilised immediately. We flew specially trained marine park rangers more than 370 kilometres from Broome to the remote site, helping them reach the stranded whale as quickly and safely as possible.
Once on the ground (or rather, on the water), the rangers worked tirelessly alongside local industry staff in a careful, seven-hour operation to safely disentangle the whale. The whale was successfully freed and able to swim away, thanks to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.
At Frontier Helicopters, we’re equipped and ready to support conservation and emergency response operations across remote regions like the Kimberley. With extensive local knowledge and proven capability in challenging conditions, we’re proud to be a trusted partner when fast, reliable aerial support is needed.
Steve Brown, the pilot in command for the mission, reflected on the experience:
“We specialise in remote area emergency response, usually for wildfire suppression or flood relief but are ready to adapt and assist whenever our services are required. Having a team of dedicated, local pilots and a close working relationship with many departments we can respond with very short notice, improving the outcomes in time critical scenarios such as this one.
However, our role of granting access to just about anywhere for teams of specialists is only a small part of these operations. Once onsite, the crew that make up these teams do amazing things to assist people, property, the environment… and whales! The genuine, professional investment in these situations is shared by the team and it’s always rewarding knowing you’ve had a positive impact.”
A huge thank you to Parks and Wildlife Service, the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation, and the local crews who lead this operation to success. We’re honoured to have played a role in protecting one of Australia’s most iconic marine species.
If you ever spot an entangled whale, don’t intervene, call the Wildcare Helpline immediately on 9474 9055. Let the trained teams handle it safely.
Image credit: Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia